Apple wins US graphic patent disputes against HTC

Apple has won a series of US patent disputes against HTC over the use of image compression technology in the iPhone and iPad.

The Taiwanese giant lodged a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) last year, stating that Apple had violated four of its patents related to protecting data, storing contact information and managing the phone's power supply, and called for a ban on imports.

However, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) said its investigation into the matter between Apple and S3 Graphics, a unit of Taiwan's HTC, had been terminated, reversing an earlier ruling. In July, an ITC judge had ruled that Apple had infringed some of the patents.

HTC is not the only firm in dispute with Apple over patents. In August, Apple won the latest battle in its patent war against Samsung devices after a Dutch court ruled in favour of a sales ban on Samsung's Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Ace smartphones in the Netherlands and possibly another 29 European countries, forcing the company to reorganise its logistics chain in Europe accordingly.